The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-27
A MILLION AND A QUARTER DOL
LARS FIRE In CHICAGO.
The Union Stock Yards for The
Most Part In Ashes-AOgs
Roasted Alive.
P.D. ARMOUR RUEFULLI WATCH
ES THE FIERY CORNER.
Manager Cadahy Cartlng Meat Away
Like Garbage-A Fatal
London Blaze.

ly this morning one OF the employer
of the Chicago Packing and Provision
Company discovered fire in the tanl
room. In few moments one OF the
tanks exploded, scattering burning
lard over the adjacent buildings, anc
a dozsn separate fires were soon com
petinR with each other in the destruc'
ton OF the immense establishment
Though the fire was struck out this
evening, fourteen and quarter hours
after it started, the smoldering embers
continued to laden the air with the
fumes of roaet pork, and q five acre
oven will remain on the premises red
hot for at least a couple of days.
The Chicago Packing aud Provision
Compsny's works occupy about six
acres of ground, but the fire was kept
within the district bounded by For
tieth street, Center avenue, Forty-sec.
ond street aud the railroad tracks a
block west of Center avenue. This
territory contained four large build
ings. The main building was 800 by
AIS feet In ii a portion OF the killing
was done, and the hanging, cut
ting, packing, curing and 9TH
er work incidental 10 a
slsughtering establishment. Except
the curing room, in which were
100000 pounds of short ribs, the
main building and its contents are a
total loss. The curing room, l00x150
feet, and four stories high, lost its
roof, but stone FIRE walls saved its con-
tents, a portion OF them in q roasted
condition. On the east side OF the
main building was the warehouse,
120x400 feet, with four stories and
a basement. The two upper floors
at the south end we're used
Tor killing purposes. In the ware.
house were 1900 barrels OF mess
pork belo oging to Armour & Co. The
building and much of the pork was
wholly destroyed. About 5000 live
hogs were in the building when the
FIRE started, but the company's en-
ployeee succeeded In getting most of
them out Between 800 and 700 hogs
were burned alive in the building.
Back of the main building was the
fsrtiliz ng factory, 100 feet square, and
the engine house, 30 by SO feet. Both
structures were burned completely.
The fact that no wind was blow
ing when the fire started was
probably the only circumstance that
saved the entire stockyards from de-
struction. No person seems to know
the origin of the fire. Several saw the
blsze simultaneously as it went
through the roof of the tank house.
The flames began to rapidly eat their
way directly across the main building.
Though the fire department was
quickly at the scene the fire
had gained a volume that no
amount of water could reduce. Huge
sweeping circles OF flames were whirl-
ing upward with a roar that could be
heard blocks. Twenty engines and
every res rvoir in the yards was soon
brought into play. All forts OF the
firemen and hundreds of stock
yards employees were bent to-
ward keeping the conhragration
confined to the works of the
Chicago Company. 1t was at this
juncture, while one little squad of
fremen were standing in freight car
playing ON the burning tsnkroom, the
tanks exploded. A heavy beam
smashed through the roof of the car,
smashing Pipeman Bakers ankle and
knocking Lieut. Elliott unconscious.
Soon sfterwsrd the walls of the ware
house tumbled to the ground, disclos-
ing great heaps of mess pork
P. ID. Armour Immediately set 200
men OF work removing the meat.
Chsrrsd barrels OF it were rolled out
and carried away. The little army
trsmped over huge piles OF loose pork
and carried big chunks OF it out
On the railroad tracks, where It was
thrown down in heaps. Occasionally
one Of the workmen would drop ten
pound roast in pool OF
water and splash his neighbors
with mixture of grease and
mud. Two wheeled carts and big
four wheeled trucks were loaded from
these heaps like garbage wagons from
the cutters. Mr.. Armour, in q white
hat and new spring suit, ruefully
watches the mess Of pork and cinders
beiog CLEARED away, while his Man
sger Oudshy stood on an elevation of
mess pork and superintendent the
work. Ia the debris were carcasses
OF hogs roasted whole. The charred
bodies shriveled into shapeless masses
of cinders we're mingled with piles OF
brick, blsckened beams and fnciner-
ated barrels.
After the flames had consumed most
of the woodwork OF the buildings, the
fire still held sway in the great mounds
of burning meat. A smoke thick with
the fumes OF tons of roasting pork
rolled over the stock pens and drove
into the eyes OF the firemel. Falling
walls filed the air with particles OF
brick dust, binding and suffocating
the men. They were at times com
PEELED to leave their hose and plunge
their heals into buckets of water,
Then they sat in turns with handker-
chief aud dipped water on their
swollen eyelids or bathed their bis.
tered cheeks with dirty water.
Perhaps the most exciting scene OF
the day was presented when the men
who were attempting to drive through
the runways the live hogs In the up.
per stories were forced by tbs flames
to desist Below were scores of work.
men rolling out barrels of pork.
Down on the crowd pell.mell leapsd
dozens Of affrighted animals that bad
jumped from the windows or eprang
through the open hatchwsys.
The men who had braved the flames
fed from the falling hogs, and at a
distance watched for glimpses Of the
Equealing brutes that craZed with pain
were rushing madly about in their tall
prison Of fire. About 200 barrels Of
pork we're saved before the hogs
commenced jumping. During the
afternoon the fitemen gave their
attention to ssving the short ribs
Mr.. Armour valued his 1900 barrels
OF PORK at $4,000. He said that with
the salvage and insurance he would
come out even. de wss unabls to
give the amount OF iusurauce. The
pant Of the Ohic1go Packing aud
Provision Company was valued
a. 100000, and the stock at
100000. A large portion Of the
stock 10 store belonged to other arties
and the loss will be sustained by them,